Grille



April 1940-, J. A. GERMONPREZ 2.195.411

- GRILLE Original Filed Dec. 14, 191 54 ZSheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR John A.Gerrnon 0rez BY A I'TORNEYS April 2, 1940.

J- A. GERMONPREZ Qriginal Filed Dec. 14, 1934 GRILLE 2 sheets sheet Q2 a ELL} 112 I x *pf 33x ZLfig/j n I J l INVENTQR Jokn A.Germo79vrez B y wi flak,

ATTORNEYS Patented'Apr. 2, 1940 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Continuation ofapplication Serial No. 751,494,

. December 14, 1934.

This application June 26,

1936, Serial No. smear. In Canada May 28,

14 Claims. (01. sa -1 14) The invention pertains to grilles of the type employed in air conditioning systems for the purpose of covering the discharge ends of air ducts through which air is discharged under pressure into rooms or other spaces to be conditioned. In order to efiect proper distribution of the air without creating uncomfortable drafts, particularly incooling systems, it is necessary to control the air in its discharge. On the other hand, conditions encountered in practice vary so widely, for example, in the size of the room, the location or disposition of the ducts, and the temperature and velocity of the air discharged, as to require a large variety of diflerent grille structures.

and advantageous construction for grilles of the characterindicated such that they may be adapted readily to meet widely different requirements in use without, however, adding appreciably to the cost of construction and while maintainin a substantially uniform appearance.

Another object is to provide a grille structure of the type composed of a multiplicity of thin fins supported in spaced parallel relation edge- 5 wise to the flow of air into a room or other space,

in which the incoming air is advantageously controlled through the cooperative action of groups of deflectors formed on the discharge edge portions of the fins.

A further object of the invention is to provide a grille having groups of deflectors cooperating in a novel manner to increase the range of travel of the air after its discharge and to avoid any unpleasant blast of air upon the room occupants.

Still another object is to provide a grille having a plurality of groups of deflectors adapted for efiectual cooperation to produce a shorter range of travel, together with improved distribution and intermixture with the room air.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating schematically the action upon the moving body of air in a grille constructed and arranged for a longrange of air travel.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a grille of the character shown somewhat schematically. in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional viewtaken substantially in the plane of line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a similar view taken in the plane of line 3-6 of Fig. 2.

Figs. 5, 6 and '7 are perspective views showing details of construction.

Fig. 8 is a partially schematic view similar to One object of my invention is to provide a novel Fig. 1 but illustrating the arrangement employed for a grille designed for a shorter air travel.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary front elevational View of a grille of the type illustrated schematically in Fig. 8.

' Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view showing in plan thespreading action effected by the central portion of the grille shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken in the plane of line HIl of Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating the construction of certain of the fins employed in the central section of the grille shown in Fig. 9.

In carrying out my invention, I employ in the construction of each grille a series of thin narrow strips or fins mounted within a suitable support-' ing frame. The fins are arranged with opposing side surfaces uniformly spaced a short distance apart so as to define narrow air passages through the grille having opposed walls constituting guiding surfaces acting upon the air streams to guide H Y i i however, may, because of their size, shape and spacing relative to each. other, serve to perform a difiusing function and cooperate with other groups of elements to produce desirable results under the varying conditions encountered in practice. v

Referring now-to Figs. 1 and 2, the grille structure here shown comprises a rectangular frame row transversely elongated air passages. The n fins i i are of substantially greaterdepth in a front torear direction than the spa ting between 20, 1938. It comprises a series of spacing elements formed by folds l5 (Figs. 5 and 6) with apertures f6 formed centrally through the folds and substantially midway between the opposite edges of the fins to receive supporting bars ll.

The grille illustrated in Fig. 2 is adapted for use where a long range-of air travel, for example, fifty or more feet, is desired, and particularly when the air to be delivered into the room or that upon leaving such a grille the moving body of air expands transversely both in a vertical and horizontal direction, resulting in a substantial enlargement of its cross sectional area and perimeter a short time after the air leaves the grille. Accordingly the resistance interposed by the room air to the travel of the incoming air is increased considerably, and such increase in resistance, coupled with the effect of gravity on the heavier cool air causes the latter to descend into the'occupancy level of the room in the form of a strong and cold blast, which is very uncomfortable. v

In an attempt to avoid this disadvantage, it is ,sometimes the practice-.to incline the fins upwardly and outwardly so as'to direct the air toward the ceiling. This arrangement has not proven satisfactory apparently because a slight upward deflection has little effect, and in the case of a sharp upward deflection the body of air strikes the ceiling and is deflected downwardly into the center of the room in the form of a cold blast. Increasing the velocity of the incoming air to increase the range of travel is objectionable on account of the noise produced and furthermore does not have the desired effect be cause of the expansion and gravitational descent of the cool air above referred to.

To overcome the defects of prior structures and increase the range of travel of air, I produce a vertical convergence of the air portions of.air streams issuing from the. upper and lower'portions of the grille, thereby effecting a concentration of the air into a narrow body traveling at a relatively high velocity and expanding or spreading gradually for intermixture with the room air. This is accomplished through the provision of deflectors at the discharge edges of the fins, preferably in the form of a multiplicity of protrusions or projections formed by bending the fins at longitudinally spaced intervals, and arranged in a plurality of groups having difierent deflecting effects, the fins in at least the upper and lower portions of the grille being disposed horizontally.

fins are arranged in groups or sections corresponding to the grouping of the deflecting ele-' section l4", and an upper section ll yand thev projections of the several groups are so' constructed and proportioned as to provide diflerent effective deflecting effects such that the moving body of air passing through the grille is divided into a central stream with a slight upward defiec-' tion, and upper and lower streams respectively deflected downwardly and upwardly.

By the arrangement set forth, all of the deflecting elements of each fin are uniform in character, thereby simplifying manufacture. Thus the fins-of the intermediate section H are provided along their discharge edgeportions with 'relatively small somewhat rounded protrusions ll projecting upwardly and outwardly across the narrow passage formed between adjacent fins. The elements I8 are so proportioned and spaced relative to each other as to produce a light defiection of the individual air streams, thereby imparting a small upward deflection to the portion of air passing through thecentral or intermediate section It.

The fins of the upper and lower sections I 4'' and II are formed with fiat relatively longer deflecting elements IQ of substantially greater area and therefore of greater deflecting effect than the rounded elements l8. Also, these upper and lower elements I! have relatively different deflecting effects in that-they are oppositely disposed, those of the upper group projecting from the under sides of the fins and being inclined outwardly and downwardly toward the face of the grille while those of the lower group are oppositely inclined outwardly and upwardly and project from the upper sides of their fins. Thus the deflecting elements I! act on the air streams flowing through the fins of the upper and lower groups J4 and W to direct the streams downwardly and upwardly respectively at opposite angles to a perpendicular to the face of the grille while the elements It, being of smaller effective area, direct the air stream through the central section II upwardly and at a smaller angle to saidperpendicular.

Due to the opposite inclination of the deflectopposed guiding surfaces of the horizontal fins so as to be sustained against a too rapid descent due to the greater effect of gravity on the heavy cold air. By arranging the deflecting elements so as to produce a'somewhat greater upward deflection of that portion of the air issuing from the lower portion of the grille, the guiding effect of the flns in sustaining the air is augmented. At the same time the downward deflection produced by the deflecting elements acting upon the air passing through the upper portion of the prevents the body of air from being deflected upwardly against the ceiling and thus pre- *maturelydefiected downwardly into the room.

An important feature is the convergence of the air streams issuing from the upper and lower portions of the grille. This efiects a concentra tion of the air into a narrow body 01' relatively high velocity and thus retards the natural expension of the air, reducing the resistance interposed by the room air. As a result, the entering air expands gradually and remains suspended above the occupancy level for a longer time, during which the heat of the surrounding air is transmitted by conduction to and, to some extent, intermixture with the entering air. Accordingly. by the time the incoming air descends into the occupancy level of the room, its temperature and velocity is such as not to be objectionable.

While I have herein shown in Fig. 2 the upper and lower sections of the grille as composed of the same number of flns and a somewhat larger number of flns in the central section, it will be apparent that the number of flns in each section may be varied relative to the number in other sections. Also, it is to be understood that my invention-is not limited to the particular numair streams in a vertical plane, as in the case of Figs. 1 and 2, the natural expanding tendency is augmented by producing a divergence of air streams horizontally, while at the same time effecting rapid intermixture with the warm air.

In Figs. 8 and 9, I have shown a grille having a main section Id of this character. It comprises in the present instance a plurality-of vertical fins 20 mounted in horizontally relation in a manner generally similar to that of the horizontal fins above described in the case of the grilles shown in Fig. 2. Thus these vertical fins are formed of thin strips of sheet metal with deflecting elements at their discharge edges arranged in a plurality of groups and operative to effect a gradual spreading action on-the moving body of air (Fig. 10).

In the presentinstance, six groups are shown, including two central groups having small rounded deflecting elements I t with the elements of these two groups projecting in opposite directions from a vertical median line. Adjacent these two central groups in opposite directions are third and fourth groups having flat elongated deflecting elements l9; and adjacent these latter groups in turn are two end groups having deflecting elements 2i of still greater deflecting effect. The latter elements are herein shown as rounded but of substantial length and of somewhat greater inclination than the deflecting element i9 01 the adjacent groups.

With this arrangement, a moving body of air tral group is acted upon by the elements it to. impart only a slight degree of deflection. At the same time, because of the shape and s of these elements, a turbulence is imparted to the air beyond the grille so that this portion of the air stream mixes more rapidly with the room air. The other elements 19' and 2|, while pro ducing a similar turbulence, serve more particularly to efiect a lateral distribution ofthe body of air over a wider area. Because of the rapid mixture of the entering air with the room air,

anundesirabie blast 01' cold air upon the room occupants is avoided.

In addition to the main section above described, the grille may, as shown in Fig. 9, also include upper and lower sections M and M similar to the upper and lower sections of the grille shown in Fig. 2, so that the upper and lower streams converge upon the central stream. .The latter is acted upon by the deflectors to effect a lateral spreading of this portion of the air over a wider area while the upper and lower converging streams serve to increase-the range of travel. Thus this arrangement is advantageous in the case of a room which is long and wide. As herein shown, a smaller number of fins. is employed in I each of the upper and lower sections. construction is employed, the fins of the main When this or central section may be suitably supported at their upper and lower ends in frame members 22 and 2t, and also may, if desired, be supported between their ends by means of a longitudinal bar '23 extending through apertures in the fins in the manner described above in connection with the grilles shown in Fig. 2.

It will be seen that through the provision of fins having deflecting elements arranged in a plurality of groups with theelements of adjacent groups of different deflecting effects, it ispossible to control efiectually a moving body of air discharged at high velocity, so as to meet the varying conditions encountered in practice.

Of primary importance in the construction of my improved grille is the mounting of the fins in parallel relation, coupled with the arrangement of inclined deflecting surfaces in different groups to accomplish the desired control of the air to meet the various conditions encountered in use, The parallel construction and arrangement is advantageous owing to the fact that all of the fins may be uniformly mounted in the supporting frame so that the manufacturing operation is greatly simplified. This is particularly important where all the deflecting surfaces on each fln are uniform in character, since all that is re quired in manufacture is the assembly of different types of flns in difierent groups as may be desired.

A- further important advantage flowing from the use of groups of deflecting elements of different deflecting efiects, with all of the fins in parallel relation, is that the discharge edge portions are uniformly spaced so that the front face of the grille presents a more uniform appearance than would be possible by positioning the fins at different angles. Also, the elements serve to break up the straight lines formed by the front edges of the fins, so that the transition point between fins having different deflecting elements is rendered less noticeable. I

in the appended claims the expression different efiective deflecting capacities is intended to include diflerence in the direction as well as extent of deflection. V

This application is a continuation of my pend- Ill I claim as my invention:

1. A forced air grllle'adapted to cover an air discharge opening and comprising agmultipllcity of thin substantially fiat fins supported horizontally one'above the other with opposite side faces in closely spaced parallel, relation across said opening, said fins being divided into a plurality of sections including an upper section and -a lowersection, and inclined deflecting elements spaced along .the discharge edge portions'of the fins of said upper and lower sections with the elements of said upper and lower sections inclined toward each other whereby to converge the portions of the air. current discharged. through the fins of said upper and lower sections.

2. In; an air conditioning system, the combination with a duct from which air is discharged,

of a grille covering the open end of said duct and comprising a plurality of thin, horizontallyfins having opposing side faces in vertically spaced parallel relation across said opening, said fins being divided into three sets includhaving opposed parallel side faces uniformly ing a central set and two outer-sets above and below the central set,'and deflecting-elements formed along the discharge 'edge portions: of the fins of'the outer sets and inclined toward each other whereby to converge the side portions of the air current toward the streams discharged through the fins of the central set.

3. A forced grille comprising, in combination, 'a'series of thin horizontally disposed fins spaced a short distance apart vertically so asto form narrow air passages, and a multiplicity of inclined deflecting elements formed .on the dis-- charge edge portions of the tins and including upper downwardly inclined elements and lower upwardly inclined elements, said deflecting ele: ments cooperating to effect a convergence of the air flowing from the upper and lower portions of the'grille, and the combined deflecting capacities of the upwardly acting elements being greater than the'combined capacities' of the downwardly acting elements.

4. In an air conditioning system, the combination :with' a duct from which air is discharged. of a grille covering the open end of said duct and comprising a plurality of thin substantially fiat vertical fins supported in uniformly spaced parallel relation, said fins beingdivided into a central section and terminal sections arranged side by side, the-fins of said terminal sections having inclined deflecting surfaces acting onthe air streams flowing between adjacent fins to cause divergence of the streams relative to the streams between the fins of said central section, and the fins of said central section having protrusions spaced a substantial distance apart andarranged to be impinged upon by the central air streams.

5. A- grille for covering the open end of an air duct in an air conditioning system, comprising a. plurality of thin vertical fins with opposing 'side faces disposed inclosely and equally spaced parallelrelation across said open end, said fins be-' ing divided into a central section. intermediate sections on either side thereof, and a terminal section adjacent each intermediate: section, the

fins of said intermediate and terminal sections having=deflecting elements facing away from said central section whereby to cause divergence of the air streams discharged from the grille, and

theelements on said terminal sections havinglarger deflecting areas than those on the interme-- B. A e for controlling the discharge of air under pr from an air duct cr -the like comprising, in combination, a central fin section having a plurality of thin narrow strips supported vertically with opposing side surfaces in laterally spaced relation and defining a multiplicity of narrow air passages of greater depth in afront to rear direction than the spacing .between said surfaceasaid strips having a multiplicity of defleetingelements formed out of the strips and inclined outwardly for impingement by the air streams flowing through said passages, said deflecting elements being arranged in a, plurality of groups horizontally of 'the grille and'cooperating to effect a lateral divergence of the airpming through said central section, and 'upper' and lower fin sections-having horizontally disposed strips with oppositely inclined deflecting surfaces adapted to converge the upper and lower portions of the air-toward the central portion iss 'u- J ing from said central section." I

-7. A forced air grille adapted to. cover an air discharge opening and comprising a plurality of thin fins supported with opposing side faces in parallel relation, said'finsbeing divided into three sets including a central set and two outer -sets, and deflecting elements formed along the discharge edge portions of the fins of the'outer sets and inclined toward each other whereby to converge the side portionsof the air currents toward the streams discharged through the fins of the central set.

through the grille, the fins of the upper section room and the fins of -the lower section extending horizontally in closely spaced relation and provlding deflecting surfaces impinged upon by that portion of the body of air, passing through the -being constructed and arranged. for 'the discharge of air substantially horlzontally into the lower section and disposed so as to ,direct'such. I

portion bodily upward and 'at an angle-relative to the direction of flow of the portion of the bodyof air passingthroughthe upper section of the.

said'body to increase the range of travel of the air outwardly from the grille. V

, .9. A register or grille for covering charge opening of an air ductcomprising a'frame. a series of parallel fins supported by said frame in-edgewiserelation to the direction of the flow of'air forced out oflsaid duct and being'of sufficient width relative to their lateral spacing as to impart positive di ectional control to the air the 'dise, whereby said lower portion of the air body exerts-a lifting force on the upper portion of flow through. the grille, said fins having longitudinally spaced portions of their discharge edges.

inclined relative to the plane of the flns to provide diffusing and deflecting elements, and said this being arranged in laterally spaced groups with the deflecting elements of the different groups having different effective deflecting areas whereby to effect a greater deflection of the air discharged through one group offln's than that discharged through the adjacent group. V V r 10. A grille; through which air is adapted to.

be blown comprising a frame, a series, of fins dispmed in 61086111818081! parallel relation and mounted in said frame in edgewise relation to the general direction.- bf the air flow through the ll'llle. said fins being disposediimhorizontal position and closely spaced so as toimpart directional control to the air flow therethrough, twoas of closely spaced horizontal fins respectively disposed above and belowsaid first mentioned fins and having deflecting surfaces inclined to- .ward said first mentioned fins whereby to de-' fiect converging air streams toward the stream defined by said first mentioned fins.

I 11. A grille through which air may be blown comprising a frame, a series of fins mounted horedgewise relation'to the direction of the flow of air through-the'frame and being of sufilcient width relative to their lateral spacing as to impart directional control to the air flow, said fins having longitudinally spaced portions of their. discharge edges inclined relative to the plane of the fins to provide difiusingand deflecting elements,'and 'said fins being arranged in lateral-- ly spaced groups with the deflecting elements of the different groups projecting in opposite directions and acting to incline the air streams discharged through the diflerent groups in op- P 8lte directions relative to a-.:perpendicular to thegrllleface. y r

13. A grille comprising a frame, a series of fins supported in spaced parallel relation by said .frame edgewise to the direction of the in-fiow through the frame, said fins being arranged in laterally spaced groups and having longitudinal- 1y spaced portions of-their discharge edges inclined relative to the plane of the fins to provide difiusing and deflecting elements, the deflecting elements of different groups projecting from their fins in different directions and being differently shaped so as to provide different efiective deflecting eflects whereby to incline the air streams discharged through the different groups in opposite directions and at different angles relative to a perpendicular to the grille face.

.14; A grille comprising a frame, a series of spaced parallel fins supported by said frame in edgewise relation to the. direction of the flow of air through the frame and being of sufiicient width relative to their lateral spacing as to'impart directional control to the air flow, said fins having longitudinally spaced portions of their discharge edges inclined relative to the plane of the fins to provide difiusing and deflecting elements. and said fins being arranged in laterally 'spaced groups with the deflecting elements of the difierent groups differently shaped and acting to produce correspondingly diflerent degrees of defiection of the air streams discharged through the different groups.

oana. annuonrmrz. h 

